Does it feel like summer yet? Weezer thinks so. Less than a year after the universally acclaimed White Album, everyone’s favorite nerd-rock band is back with a new single and – you know it – the announcement of a new album slated for a 2017 release. Anyone who has rode the euphoric wave that has been Weezer’s unprecedented return to relevancy will be understandably hyped. Well, at least for a few minutes. If you’d like to hold onto that enthusiasm a little bit longer, stop reading here.
In what I wish was not typical “Weezer fashion”, the new single takes this band’s resurgent existence and, both forcefully and decisively, pulls the life support plug. “Feels Like Summer” is an auto-tuned, repetitive mess – channeling the worst of modern pop radio and fusing it with the pompous sense of stature that destroyed Make Believe. I wish such descriptors were merely a bout of frustration; hyperbole brought on by disappointment. However, it’s best you just decide for yourself:
It’s clear that Weezer has not learned from its own history. Instead of continuing to ride what they do best, pleasing fans and solidifying their own legacy in…
New Alt-J and Fleet Foxes? Don’t mind the double track review; some things in life are just necessary. In this case, only one day after hearing that Alt-J have a new single and an album titled Relaxer coming out June 9, Fleet Foxes said “all in” and revealed a new track of their own to accompany the announcement of Crack Up – their first album in six years due out June 16. Needless to say, it’s an exciting time to be a fan of all things indie. Here, we’ll review each track individually and see what, if anything, they can reveal about the upcoming LPs from whence they came.
We’ll begin with the Alt-J track “3WW” because it came out first. “3WW” is an absolutely captivating piece of lo-fi indie rock. Commencing with a thumping backbeat, gentle guitar plucks, and handclaps, it feels mysterious and warmly inviting all at the same time. One thing that both tracks on this feature have in common is that they both pick up where each respective artist left off. “3WW” easily could have been dropped in the middle of This Is All Yours and nobody would have blinked, aside from the fact that it’s stunning aesthetically and would have marked yet another highlight. Joe…
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of March 10, 2017. Boxer Calvin Klein Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
–Featured Release: The Shins: “Heartworms”–
Genre: Indie-Pop // Label: Columbia Records
Background:
The Shins have long been a cornerstone of their genre, going all the way back to their 2001 smash hit “New Slang” from Oh, Inverted World. You could fashion a convincing argument that the band peaked too early, as we’ve yet to really see them top that album which helped launch new millennium indie-pop. Chutes Too Narrow and Wincing The Night Away both proved to be worthy entries in their own right, but more recently, Port of Morrow saw the group at its most commercial and least appealing from an artistic standpoint. Calvin Klein Slip Everything about Heartworms screams for a return to form, from the classic indie-as-hell artwork to the singles released in advance of the record. The question of whether or not it is a ploy or a triumph remains to be answered however – an opinion that you can begin to form by streaming “Dead Alive” below.
Lorde is back, and she is following up on a four year wait with one of her most triumphant-sounding tracks yet – the bitterly scorned, irrefutably confident “Green Light.” The track was unveiled yesterday alongside the announcement of her sophomore record Melodrama, set to be released this summer. If the album is anything like the lead single, then we can expect a pretty stark change in Lorde’s approach. Whereas the whole of Pure Heroine possessed a rhythmic, downbeat atmosphere, “Green Light” has an elated chorus while the music video shows her dancing and writhing around the streets and nightclubs of a major city. It might not be the most well-advised comparison to make, but it actually reminds me a lot of Florence & The Machine’s “Shake It Out” (the video too), as darker themes bubbling under the surface are almost exorcised like some sort of ritualistic expulsion of all the demons that try to keep us weighed down in a pit of demise and self-loathing. While “Green Light” may draw from embattled emotions, it sounds as upbeat and inspiring as anything she’s written to date.
The lyrical content revolves around an apparent breakup, featuring lines like “she…
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of March 3, 2017. Slip Calvin Klein Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. Bragas Calvin Klein Baratas As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
–Featured Release: Dia Frampton: “Bruises”–
Genre: Indie-Pop // Label: Nettwerk Music Group
Background:
Dia Frampton releases her long-awaited follow up to 2011’s Red, a pointedly under the radar indie-pop release that drew critical praise. Tanga Calvin Klein MujerBruises offers hauntingly beautiful atmospheres and vocals, continuing her upward trajectory as a songwriter to keep an eye [and an ear] on.
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of February 24, 2017. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. Calvin Klein Tanga As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
Genre: Indie-Rock/Experimental // Label: Domino Recording Co Ltd
Background:
For a decade now, Brooklyn-based experimental rockers Dirty Projectors have been providing an unconventional listening experience. Their penchant for throwing odd time signatures, thumping bass lines, mesmerizing vocals, and electronic elements into a blender and seeing what comes out the other side has yielded surprisingly consistent results – especially considering their brazen exploration of any and all things weird. Bitte Orca became one of their most well received albums in 2009. Boxer Calvin Klein Al Mayor After developing some pop sensibilitiesto match their burgeoning experimental energy with 2012’s Swing Lo Magellan, their music became the perfect blend of what was interesting and what made sense. The band’s self-titled record not only marks another step in that direction, but it also makes a hefty push towards the artsy offerings of peers like Justin Vernon.
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of February 17, 2017. Tangas Calvin Klein Baratos Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. Calvin Klein Ropa Interior Hombre As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
– Full List of Releases: February 17, 2017 –
The Away Days: Dreamed at Dawn Genre: Indie-Pop // Label: Pasaj
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Battle Beast: Bringer Of Pain Genre: Heavy Metal // Label: Nuclear Blast
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of February 10, 2017. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
–Featured Release: Teen Daze: “Themes for Dying Earth”–
Genre: Electronic/Ambient Dream Pop // Label: Flora
Background:
“Pastoral Ambience” is how many have referred to Teen Daze’s sound; a fusion of ethereal pop vocals with layered synths, sampled sounds, and heavily filtered acoustics. If Jamison Isaak and his surrounding project earned this reputation on 2013’s Glacier, then the latest offering is sure to cement their niche as one of the most gorgeous-sounding ambient indie-pop acts around. With tightly crafted hooks and subtle remnants of chillwave and shoegaze flowing effortlessly, Themes for Dying Earth is an album you should probably listen to while laying down in the grass; staring up at the sky with a good set of headphones to reveal every small intricacy that this stunning record has to offer.
Listen to Teen Daze’s’ effervescent opening number, “Cycle”:
– Full List of Releases: February 10, 2017 –
Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness: Zombies On Broadway
Genre: Pop // Label: Vanguard Records
Disclaimer: I’m no Depeche Mode expert. My experience with them is pretty much limited to the famed Violator, as well as a few singles here and there. That didn’t stop the band’s latest single, “Where’s The Revolution”, from capturing my interest immediately though. It’s tough not to notice when a band comes out of nowhere to capture the essence of everything that’s been going on in the world, effortlessly, as if it’s just one sentence out of an entire novel that they’re ready to heave our way this March . But my God, what a statement this is.
If Bob Dylan scored our parents’ anti-war sentiments of the 60s during Vietnam, and Green Day’s American Idiot reigned in a whole new generation of political punks during the post-9/11 hysteria, then there is certainly a musical void to be filled with regards to the chaos going on right now in America and across the world. I can’t know beyond a shadow of a doubt what this song’s intentions are – much less what the entire album will dictate – but there’s no way in hell that Depeche Mode wasn’t aware enough of their surroundings to know how this song would be perceived. So if it aims to capture the essence of the confusion, anger, and fear of Trump’s America, then it succeeds in every imaginable way.
I’m not aiming to take a political stance here either, because whatever side of the spectrum you…
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of February 3, 2017. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
–Featured Release: The Menzingers: “After The Party”–
Genre: Punk // Label: Epitaph
Background:
Punk group The Menzingers release their 5th LP this Friday, on the heels of some pretty damned consistent critical praise. If the singles are any indication, this will be one of their most explosive, passionate, and melodic releases to date. Already garnering a 4.3 average across 25 user ratings, After The Party is clearly Sputnikmusic’s most anticipated release this week. If you’re new to the party – pun intended – check out the album’s heartfelt title track below.
Listen to The Menzingers’ title track for After The Party:
– Full List of Releases: February 3, 2017 –
Andy Suzuki & The Method: The Glass Hour
Genre: Pop Rock // Label: self-released
What began as an idea to post on a quarterly basis has evolved into something of a whenever-I-please due to an influx of excellent indie/alternative tracks and a need for me to document them all in one place. There’s no specific timetable for this continuing blog, but every time my queue of interesting, upcoming alt/indie tracks starts to get high I’ll just purge them onto my spotify list and share with the Sputnik community (joy!).
As I mentioned, these are all singles or tracks that have been officially released, but have not seen their respective EPs/Albums actually drop yet. This gives readers the opportunity to keep with the best new and upcoming indie releases as they happen. And you know you’re getting nothing but the best, because I’m picking the songs. I hear Train has an album coming out in 2 days, so get hyped.
Anyway, for installment #2 we see both Dude York and Temples – who are becoming my darling “under the radar” indie-rockers this year – make a return (both were featured on Indie Corner #1). The playlist also features new material from the likes of Spoon, Minus The Bear, Father John Misty, Conor Oberst, Dirty Projectors, Peter Silberman, and Real Estate. If you don’t already have a Spotify account (like seriously?), get one and then follow me. I have 16 dedicated followers so you still have time to get in good with me before…
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of January 27, 2017. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
–Featured Release: Cloud Nothings: “Life Without Sound”–
Genre: Lo-Fi Indie-Rock // Label: Carpark Records
Background:
On Life Without Sound, Cloud Nothings drop their 4th LP with a slight shift in dynamics. Their scrappy lo-fi brand of punk appears to now be incorporating a melodic indie-rock aesthetic, and the results are often breathtaking. It won’t win over each and every diehard fan, but Life Without Sound still represents an important step outside of the band’s comfort zone that should help them earn more recognition while continuing to expand upon their sonic arsenal. Don’t miss out on Hype Machine’s stream of the new record, while those of you looking for a quick sample can listen to ‘Modern Act’ below.
Listen to Cloud Nothings’ uncharacteristically melodic “Modern Act”:
– Full List of Releases: January 27, 2017 –
Allison Crutchfield: Tourist in This Town
Genre: Pop Punk // Label: Merge
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of January 20, 2017. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
–Featured Release: AFI: “AFI (The Blood Album)”–
Genre: Punk/Alt-Rock // Label: Concord Music Group, Inc.
Background:
AFI (A Fire Inside) have a storied history as one of punk’s most long-lived and influential bands. As they find themselves now ten albums deep into their career, what should we be expecting from AFI (The Blood Album)? Even the most hopeful of fans know another Black Sails in the Sunset or Answer That and Stay Fashionable isn’t in the cards, because quite frankly the band is in its third decade and its members reside at a totally different juncture in their lives. The material released in advance of The Blood Album yielded singles with a sound more darkened, yet equally as melodic and accessible as – say – Crash Love. Thus, a more realistic target for this record may be a return to the band’s early 2000’s punk/emo heyday, something along the lines of Sing The Sorrow. It remains to be seen if the band will match the passion and energy of that era, but songs like ‘Snow Cats’ are a good indicator of what to expect. Give it a…
“I’ve got no right to be depressed,” whines Will Toledo on Teens of Denial‘s cerebral and prescient opener, “Fill in the Blank”. In it, he complains about nothing in particular, lamenting nothing whilst refusing to form an intelligent or informed opinion on anything. In many ways, he’s symptomatic of white, liberal, twenty-something naval-gazing, always finding problems but never caring to see if there’s solutions. But, in denying the illegitimacy of his malaise, and proclaiming with a sort of disenfranchised aplomb that he indeed ‘has a right to be depressed,’ Toledo flips the narrative; he welcomes introversion and entertains its possibilities. It becomes the central thesis of Teens of Denial, kicking against the little things with a sincerely sarcastic bent. Toledo writes bedroom pop songs around knotty compositions, exercising guitar theatrics whilst never emerging from his humbled performance style. In effect, he’s living a maladaptive daydream, wherein his lonely nights become cathartic rock concerts, celebrating his emotional fragility whilst having at least one foot on the distortion pedal. If you’ve ever spent a Saturday night at home, then you’ll recognize the sound. –Elliott
There are some questions as to why 3 Demos, Reworked even exists. Was it a hastily-recorded fixer to smooth over the grumblings when LP5 was delayed once again? Or was it planned out in advance, part of a bigger scheme leading up to whatever Brand New have in store for 2017? The cynic in me thinks the former, but the music on display seems to bear up the latter. 3 Demos is the tightest, least-forced music we’ve heard from Brand New since Daisy, and the fact that the songs are more than ten years old doesn’t seem to hurt that in the least. “Brother’s Song” and “1996” are clean, crisp and beautiful, with the former’s raw acoustic appeal translating weirdly well to a full-band electric version. “1996” has definitely changed the least, with Lacey’s best Morrissey impression still in the forefront amongst some of the finest and most cynical lyrics he’s ever penned. Only “Missing You” is a dud, with the original’s dirty electronic drive totally lost amongst the too-polished, too-slow reinterpretation. But “Missing You” doesn’t stop this being one of the stronger EPs of the year, and hopefully a sign that Brand New are getting back in the headspace that gave us The Devil and God… all those years ago. –Rowan
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